Strengthened with God's Protection

Strengthened with God's Protection (speaking time: 35–45 minutes)

Is 43:1-4

Imagine a construction worker stepping onto a busy job site. Before they even pick up a tool, what do they do? They put on their hard hat, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and high-visibility vest. Why? Because they know the risks inherent in their work environment and understand the vital importance of protection. Now, let's consider the pastor entering the field of ministry. Just as the construction site is filled with potential physical hazards, the spiritual battlefield of ministry is fraught with unseen dangers. However, there's one crucial difference. While a construction worker must remember to put on their gear each day, God's protection for His servants in ministry is constant and ever-present. Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us, "The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."Just as no responsible worker would dream of entering a hazardous job site without proper protection, no pastor should attempt to navigate the challenges of ministry without being fully surrounded by God's divine protection. It's not something we put on and take off; it's a constant state of being for those who trust in Him. So, pastors, as you step into your calling each day, remember: you're not just protected – you're enveloped in the all-encompassing, never-failing armor of God's love and care. This protection isn't just for your sake, but for the sake of those you're called to serve and lead.

*John Cochran’s pouring into me

Is 43:1-4

Let me show you what I mean (v1-4)

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

1. Strengthened – By God’s Grace (v1)

When life’s hard – trust God’s grace

As in lean on it; Rest in it; Believe in it; Depend on it; Hold fast to it; Treasure it; That’s what I mean by trust it; Embrace it as true, and let it support you.

And we get a glimpse of that grace in the very first verse – Thus says the LORD who created you and formed you. He did what he didn’t have to, when we didn’t deserve it – by creating us as individuals and forming us as his people.

That’s the foundation of his trustworthy grace; And then builds a virtual mansion on it

Starting with . . .

The grace of his redemption (v1b)

Trust the grace of God’s redemption; Just like he says in v1b – Fear not, for I have redeemed you. As in trust me, I’ve made you whole; I’ve restored your life. Or, more literally – I’ve bought you back from the bondage of your circumstances and paid the debt of your sin; That’s redemption.

The Hebrew word for which, is “gaal”; And it was often used in a legal sense to buy back land that someone had sold to cover a debt . . .Or, buy back a person, who had sold themselves into slavery to cover a debt. And the only one who could do the buying back – was a relative, a kinsman; Someone with whom the person in need, had a relationship.

So a “goel”, a kinsman-redeemer, would “gaal”, the land or person, redeem them – by paying the debt that was owed, and so release them to live life to the full once again.

The very thing God did with the Israelites of old who were slaves in Egypt . . . The very thing he was going to do with the people in Isaiah’s day; Referring to it with the certainty of the past tense – I have redeemed you . . .

And the very thing he’s done for us in Christ – paying the redemption price for our lives and releasing us from the grip of sin to live full and free for him.

Pastors Don’t forget that; When the difficulties of life and ministry threaten to enslave you, remember that you’ve been redeemed. When you’re tempted to think of yourself as worthless, trust his grace – you’ve been bought with a price; And not with money, but blood – the precious blood of the Lamb. Rest in that; be Strengthened - By God’s Grace (v1-4).

The grace of his redemption AND…

The grace of his grip (v1b) I have called you by name, you are mine. My own possession.

Just like he told the Israelites of old in Ex 19:5 – You shall be my treasured possession.

And tells us in Titus 2:14 – [Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

And 1 Pet 2:9 says – You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.

That’s the grip of God’s grace*****

Keeping us even when we sin; Even when we rebel; Even when we wander.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (As pastors we need to be reminded of that over and over again)

2. Strengthened – By God’s Provision (v 2)

God gives us strength to endure, not escape.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamity 2 Cor 12.9-10

The grace of his presence (v2a)

Look at v2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; It’s a truth we see over and over again in these chapters; And no wonder; We’re hard-wired for it. Created in the image of God as we are, we have a desire for relationship, a desire for community; And, we are Strengthened by the grace of God's presence.

So it’s no wonder God meets us right where we need it.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (2a)

“When you’re about ready to drown, I’m there; When you sink to the bottom, I’m there; When others can’t be, I am”; That’s the grace of God’s presence He’s there; W/ you; No matter what; Everlasting arms and all; Waiting to be leaned on.

Trust the grace of his presence, and trust . . .

The grace of his protection (v2b)

The rivers shall not overwhelm you; The fire shall not burn you; The flame shall not consume you (2b);That’s the grace of God’s protection.

With fire and flood as metaphors for hardship and difficulty of all kinds

And the point, is that God will protect. He will strengthen with his protection.

Does that mean you’ll never suffer, or never suffer harm? Not at all

As long as we live in a fallen world among fallen people, harm is always a risk.

And as long as the Lord tarries, suffering is a certainty.

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake (2 Cor 4:11)

And Paul says in Rom 8:35-37 . . .

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written,“For your sake [God’s sake] we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” IOW it’s happening. Rivers aredrowning us; Fire is burning us; Flames are consuming us.

But is it of any eternal consequence? Does it do any real harm to our soul and life?

[37] No [Paul says], in all these things [fire, famine, flood, or hardship of any sort] we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

We are more than protected by God’s grace

Suppressed at times – yes; Diminished – yes; Beaten down – yes*****

But never out, and never alone!

I love the testimony and life of Elizabeth Elliot in that respect – pictured here

; As a follower of Christ, she’s been an avid author and speaker for over 40 years. And Isaiah 43:2 has been one of her go-to verses in life.

Despite that fact that her husband of just 2 years, Jim Elliot, was murdered by the Auca Indians as a 28 year-old missionary in 1956 . . .

And despite the fact that she was left to raise their 1 year-old daughter by herself . . .

And despite the fact that she endured incredible hardship working in the jungles of Ecuador, with those same people for the next 7 years . . .

The very ones who murdered her husband. And despite that fact that her 2nd husband died of cancer 4 yrs after she married him . .

And despite the fact she suffered from dementia and the loss of her memory, and had to stop speaking in 2004 . .

And despite the fact that she struggled with the vagaries of old age in a big way.

Despite all that, she’s found God to be completely faithful to his word, and continued to trust his grace, as found in this very verse; What a testimony, what an example*****

Trusting the grace of Provision through his presence/protection.

If she can do it, you can too.

Especially so b/c God’s all-powerful; When life’s hard, trust . . .. . . His presence, protection and…

The grace of his power (v3a)

The power to keep on; The power to overcome

For I am the LORD your God [he says in v3], the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

IOW I’m the one who’s been with you for centuries now – your God. I’m the one who’s other than you – holy; And I’m the one who’s saved you.

All of which means he’s proven, and more than capable of extending his grace to our lives; “I’ve got the power; Trust me”; That’s what he’s saying.

And last, trust . . .

3. Strengthened - by God’s Love (v3-4)

The grace of his love (v3b-4)

When life’s hard, trust the grace of his redemption, call, grip, presence, protection, power, and love

V3b-4 – I give Egypt as your ransom [the redemption price for your life], Cush and Seba in exchange for you. [4] Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

So great is God’s love for those he calls, those he chooses – that he gives up others in order to protect and keep them. Sometimes removing them, sometimes punishing them, and sometimes destroying them.

Like he did w/ the obstinate Egyptians as the Israelites escaped from 400 years of slavery.

Or some of the people groups who opposed them as they journeyed through the Sinai.

Or the sinful Canaanites who prevented them from entering the Promised Land.

Some he removed, some he brought to their knees, and some he wiped out.

Having made them in his own image, he devoted them to destruction, for the sake of his

Own.

That’s love; The same love he showed in giving up his Son for us

What God did then with various peoples, he did at the cross with his Son; Only this time the price he paid was infinite. I give[Jesus] as your ransom; [My Son] in exchange for you; Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give [him]in return for you, [his life] in exchange for [yours].

Summary:

1. Strengthened – By God’s Grace (v1)

2. Strengthened – By God’s Provision (v 2)

3. Strengthened - by God’s Love (v3-4)

How do we apply being strengthened with God's Protection? Some things Debbie and I have learnt:

Here are the PROTECTIVE MEASURES: Surround yourself with people who pray and gets their prayers answered:

Surround yourself with people who don’t broadcast it, but you see it coming out every now and then. That God answers their prayers.

I don’t know about you, but I want those people on my team. I want them praying for the things I’m praying for.

In fact, every last Thursday of the month we get together as a staff to worship and pray. Surround yourself with those who know how to pray, and it shows – in their lives, in their ministries, and in your church.

Surround yourself with people like that; people who pray. And remember, it starts with you – if you don’t pray, they never will!

Surround yourself with people who know how to pray and get their prayers answered.

PROTECTIVE MEASURES:

Have someone in your life who can call you on your stupidity.

Surround yourself with people who could hold you accountable, not yes people. But people who could move you towards Christ. God’s protection is not only the physical, protecting you from harm and sickness but providing for your family and keeping you mentally stable. I have a prayer and accountability partner for over 25yrs. Debbie knows she can call him at any time. And she has many times in our marriage and ministry.

Why Pastoral Accountability Matters

Spiritual Protection

Prevents moral and ethical blind spots

Guards against potential leadership burnout Creates a safeguard against pride and self-deception

Always be learning Something:

Fill up constantly so you can overflow. If you speak out of the abundance of your heart, and there’s nothing there, it’s just hot air. Get with Jesus, Read your Bible, Pray,

Worship the Lord. And get with others who do the same. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to add godly men to your elder board.

Always be reading something. If you don’t have an insatiable desire to learn and grow – you shouldn’t be a SP.

PROTECTIVE MEASURES:

Take mental and physical breaks. Pastors as spiritual leaders, must prioritize their mental and physical well-being through regular breaks to maintain effective, sustainable ministry. Taking intentional time off is not a luxury but a biblical and practical necessity for pastoral health and longevity.Regular breaks, including daily rest, weekly Sabbaths, and periodic sabbaticals, serve multiple crucial purposes. Not just for you but your staff every 5 or 7yrs and pay for it for them.

Put your family first.

Pay attention to your wife. No marriage, no ministry

Listen to her.

Disciple your kids. If you fail to disciple your kids b/c you’re so wrapped up in church, you’ve failed.

I don’t care how big your church is.

Protect your day off.

For your wife – she sacrifices plenty; don’t shortchange her on that as well.

For yourself – you need it to re-charge your batteries. Unless you know something Jesus didn’t. Take care of yourself

For your church – to be at your best.

Summary

Strengthened with God's Protection:

1. Strengthened – By God’s Grace (v1)

2. Strengthened – By God’s Provision (v 2)

3. Strengthened - by God’s Love (v3-4)

Pray: